Moroccan gendarmerie denies extortion allegations amid truckers' protest in Aglou

A senior official from the Royal Gendarmerie in Aglou, Tiznit province, has categorically denied accusations of “extortion” and “harassment” allegedly committed by local officers against construction materials transporters.

The denial comes in response to a protest organized Friday morning by the regional office of the National Union of Road Transport Professionals, affiliated with the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT).

The demonstration took place on the Agadir road and accused gendarmes in Aglou’s jurisdiction of repeated harassment of construction material haulers.

Speaking to Hespress, the gendarmerie official insisted that “all actions carried out by the Aglou territorial gendarmerie are lawful and aimed at ensuring the safety of all road users.”

The official added that “some transport operators refuse to comply with routine security checks and interpret any document inspection or citation as harassment, as if they are above the law, when in fact, all Moroccans are equal before the law and must abide by it as enshrined in the Constitution.”

The official also noted that Aglou, being a popular summer destination, experiences high traffic volumes during the season. This congestion, he said, necessitates increased monitoring to ensure road fluidity and the safety of passengers, property, and all road users.

“The purpose of this monitoring is not punitive,” he said, “but rather to protect drivers and the public by enforcing safety standards and preventing potentially fatal traffic accidents.”

He added that some transporters, particularly those carrying construction materials, commit serious safety violations, including exceeding weight limits, failing to properly secure cargo, and neglecting to cover truckloads, practices that increase risks on the road.

The Hespress source emphasized that local gendarmes carry out their duties with integrity and transparency, noting that all field operations are recorded with body cameras worn by officers.

He urged all drivers to comply with Morocco’s traffic laws, stressing that “respecting road regulations is not only a legal obligation but also a moral duty to ensure public safety and reduce accidents.”